choice seats

[tadjr]

This seems like as good a place as any to add this. I asked Tempe why we didnt do something like UA and Economy Plus that gives real value to a service instead of our "fake" value (my words) in our Choice Seats program? UA gets some good $ from offering a little more leg room and its not like we're flying at 100%. Isnt there overcapacity in the system as well? Taking out 1 row of coach would add up to 6 inches in the first 5 rows or 5 inches in the first 6 rows of a plane meaning we lost 6 seats, but have the chance to make it up (or more depending on the route/market/fares being sold) with 25 or 30 people buying more leg room. We take more capacity out of the system without losing flights/markets and offer something of real value to customers. They responded they are always looking at options. I know it would cost money up front to redo the cabins, but in the long run I would think it would be a moneymaker and add to a good perception of US attempting to make flying a little better/easier for those willing to pay for a little more instead of squeezing money out for something that isnt really a better option unless you just cant sit in the back or a middle seat.

 

[jcw]

This seems like as good a place as any to add this. I asked Tempe why we didnt do something like UA and Economy Plus that gives real value to a service instead of our "fake" value (my words) in our Choice Seats program? UA gets some good $ from offering a little more leg room and its not like we're flying at 100%. Isnt there overcapacity in the system as well? Taking out 1 row of coach would add up to 6 inches in the first 5 rows or 5 inches in the first 6 rows of a plane meaning we lost 6 seats, but have the chance to make it up (or more depending on the route/market/fares being sold) with 25 or 30 people buying more leg room. We take more capacity out of the system without losing flights/markets and offer something of real value to customers. They responded they are always looking at options. I know it would cost money up front to redo the cabins, but in the long run I would think it would be a moneymaker and add to a good perception of US attempting to make flying a little better/easier for those willing to pay for a little more instead of squeezing money out for something that isnt really a better option unless you just cant sit in the back or a middle seat.

Your assuming they actually have business acumen and actually care about the customer.

 

[AstroLounge]

I agree that choice seats can be a pain in the ass...especially on full flights with lots of families, as we do here in Florida....

On a positive note...the fact that choice seats will now be available at the time you book your reservation...up to 335 days in advance I believe, will help alleviate most of these issues we have here at the airport on the day of departure. The way I look at it, you either choose to select a choice seat in advance if you want to guarantee yourself the best seats for a nominal fee, or you don't. That simple.

The so called 'Choice Seats' is literally a PITA because it creates problems with families that are separated and then the immediate source of resolution is "Ask the F/A about seeing that you get it straightened out". Well, the F/A DIDN'T create the problem and shouldn't be expected to reseat an entire airplane cabin to make Family "X" happy. And if I paid EXTRA for the so called 'Choice' seat.....I sure as hell WOULD NOT be willing to move to a more undesirable seat just so Family "X" can all sit together like The Clampett's driving their jitney to Beverly Hills Maybe United's Economy Plus is a viable option but I for one would like to know "how do you keep the cabin trolls OUT of those seats IF they didn't pay to sit there?". F/A's have a job to do as it is........they should not be expected to take attendance in the restricted zone or monitor the seats like the military patrolling the DMZ in Korea. People in general are always looking for a bargain, a personal gain or to take advantage of a situation when it presents itself, and don't let ANYONE fool you otherwise. Choice Seating is NOT the answer though because THERE ISN"T anything CHOICE or Special about those seats when it comes down to it.

 

[phllax]

Maybe United's Economy Plus is a viable option but I for one would like to know "how do you keep the cabin trolls OUT of those seats IF they didn't pay to sit there?". F/A's have a job to do as it is........they should not be expected to take attendance in the restricted zone or monitor the seats like the military patrolling the DMZ in Korea.

There's some big differences with the E+ than Choice Seats:
1) All UA elites quality for it and automatically get it when booking and choosing seats. CO elites are also going to get it soon - merger or not.
2) If the only seats available at the gate are E+, you'll get it gratis
3) UA also has the F/A's make an announcement on the Airbus and 757 about remaining in your assigned cabin (the 763 Ghetto Bird 2 cabin has E+ all in front of window exits and mid-galley in mini-cabin and I don't know about 747, 777 and 763 3-cabin), and that it costs extra to sit in those seats. I have seen F/A's boot people out of the seats who move themselves up. Hell, I was on a 320 flight SJD-LAX where there were NO people in the 12 exit row seats. I asked the F/A about moving and if it was legal to have them vacant and she said it was fine, and if we wanted to move we'd have to pay.
4) Agents will proactively move up Star Alliance elites from E- to E+ on flights that have a full E- cabin but still have ticketed pax with unassigned seats.
5) There actually is value to having the extra legroom that E+ offers.

They do have some problems on the Explus CR7's where for weight and balance they have to move people into E+.

 

[AstroLounge]

There's some big differences with the E+ than Choice Seats:
1) All UA elites quality for it and automatically get it when booking and choosing seats. CO elites are also going to get it soon - merger or not.
2) If the only seats available at the gate are E+, you'll get it gratis
3) UA also has the F/A's make an announcement on the Airbus and 757 about remaining in your assigned cabin (the 763 Ghetto Bird 2 cabin has E+ all in front of window exits and mid-galley in mini-cabin and I don't know about 747, 777 and 763 3-cabin), and that it costs extra to sit in those seats. I have seen F/A's boot people out of the seats who move themselves up. Hell, I was on a 320 flight SJD-LAX where there were NO people in the 12 exit row seats. I asked the F/A about moving and if it was legal to have them vacant and she said it was fine, and if we wanted to move we'd have to pay.
4) Agents will proactively move up Star Alliance elites from E- to E+ on flights that have a full E- cabin but still have ticketed pax with unassigned seats.
5) There actually is value to having the extra legroom that E+ offers.

They do have some problems on the Explus CR7's where for weight and balance they have to move people into E+.

Thanks for the clarification. Was curious in how they keep the tyrolls from scampering about the cabin..........You know, the ones who will walk thru the entire plane looking for an entire row to themselves. Cause it's 'All about me'

 

[JetguyCLT]

Havent seen the memo yet so cant comment on it specifically. There needs to be an override or something for the choice seats. I understand the need to make money, however, there are times that having choice seats means more work and possible delays (which would mean a possible write up of the agent).
We had prisoners the other day and needed to switch out the last row to get them seated there. Had a whole row of choice seats and scattered non choice seats. Cant do anything with them at checkin so they head to the gate. Now when the choice seats become available, the agent at the gate gets to play see how fast they can move everyone around that needs to be accommodated before flight time. Of course the agent could have just reseated the last row in the various scattered seats that the prisoner and guards had, but that wouldnt really be good CUSTOMER SERVICE when there are other seats available.
When rerouting a Preferred member at the last minute due to maint/weather, etc (not a voluntary reroute of their choice) and we only have choice seats left we can attempt to have the gate assign them at 45 mins, but this means they have less time to do other things they need to do and we have to make someone stand in another line to get something done that we should be able to do at initial point of reroute. Again, not good CUSTOMER SERVICE.
Have a family with little kids? Not seated together? Really want to sit with your kids? Pay up! Not good CUSTOMER SERVICE.
Got a carryon wheelchair passenger seated in the back of the plane? Pay up bud. Not good CUSTOMER SERVICE

Do I detect a pattern here???? :unsure: :blink:

Again, I understand the need to make money, but there needs to be some leeway (manager assignment?) of these seats in advance so the gates arent having to deal with so many issues at the end of checkin/boarding. It only opens up the possibility for more issues at departure which could mean a delayed flight. And we wouldnt want that would we?

There is a work around for assgining Choice Seats prior to D45. SU sine can do it if flight is not already opened at the boarding gate. PM me if you want to know what it is.

 

[john john]

There is a work around for assgining Choice Seats prior to D45. SU sine can do it if flight is not already opened at the boarding gate. PM me if you want to know what it is.

You better watch it you will get in trouble. Tying the hands of the front line workers. Typical HP paranoia

 

[jimcfs]

5) There actually is value to having the extra legroom that E+ offers.

That hits it on the head for me. E+ has value, choice seats just means I get off the plane first. CS isn't worth it from the value perspective.

 

[SS255]

The so called 'Choice Seats' is literally a PITA because it creates problems with families that are separated and then the immediate source of resolution is "Ask the F/A about seeing that you get it straightened out". Well, the F/A DIDN'T create the problem and shouldn't be expected to reseat an entire airplane cabin to make Family "X" happy. And if I paid EXTRA for the so called 'Choice' seat.....I sure as hell WOULD NOT be willing to move to a more undesirable seat just so Family "X" can all sit together like

Does the 45-page manual explain what the policy is when FA's ask people who paid to sit in a specific Choice Seat to move to accommodate a family?

Let's say when I book, the only seats available are middles in the back, or Choice Seats in the front. I decide to pony up $15 for an aisle Choice Seat, because I want an aisle seat, not because I care about getting off the plane faster. If an FA forceably re-seats me in a middle or window Choice Seat to accommodate a family, will US refund my Choice Seat fee? By the letter of US's law, I paid for a Choice Seat, and I got a Choice Seat. However, I would not have paid for a middle or window Choice Seat, so basically I got hosed.

 

[tadjr]

The flight attendants are not going to forceably move you out of your choice seat. They may ask, the family may ask, but if you dont want to move, dont move. The only issue with someone being forceably moved would be someone in an exit row who isnt qualified and those arent choice seats anyway.

 

[FlyGuyBWI]

The flight attendants are not going to forceably move you out of your choice seat. They may ask, the family may ask, but if you dont want to move, dont move. The only issue with someone being forceably moved would be someone in an exit row who isnt qualified and those arent choice seats anyway.

True. I don't know of any F/A that would (or could) "forceably" move a revenue passenger from her/his CHOICE seat. That being said, the above point is exactly why I tell parties that do not have seats together to ask those seated around them if they will move. Then, I check on them before we close the A/C door -- 99.99% of the time, the problem has worked itself out.